A Watchful Eye is the Best Prevention against Choking!

Hot dogs, balloons, plastic wrap and other small objects have always been the cause of choking. Hot dogs and balloons are favorites at children’s parties. These two top this list of items the American Academy of Pediatrics (“AAP”) as posing a choking risk to our children.

Did you know that choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional death in children under age 5? An incredible fact that one child dies from choking on food every five days in the U.S. In addition, more than 10,000 children go to a hospital emergency room every year because of a choking event.

Earlier this year, the AAP recommended hot dog manufactures add a warning label to their packaging after finding that hot dogs are the number one food choking risk for children. Especially if cut into discs that have the same circumference as the child’s throat opening.

Given that halloween is just around the corner it is only fair to mention that other foods are also risks to watch for. High risk foods include:

• popcorn
• hard or stick candy, marshmallows
• chips and pretzels
• cheese cubes
• whole grapes, carrots, raisins, and nuts
• even peanut butter.

Some non-food category items include, balloons, the number one non-food risk. Extremely important to note here is avoiding any attempt to blow up balloons causing an accidental inhaling of the item. Toy manufacturers use choking labels, but toys meant for older children may have parts that can fall off or are removable may pose hazards you may not be thinking about. Even some common household items like coins, buttons and pen or marker caps should be secured.

Young children are more curious and creative than grown ups. They have an uncanny ability to find objects overlooked by us. Your watchful eye is your risk management tool to keep your child safe and healthcare costs down. Don’t be that friend who posts on face book, how her day was crazy at the ER because her child had put an object up her nose when she was not looking for a second or think sitting at the beach your child would not find the cool salting rock not something to taste.

For more healthy tips, go to www.yourwellnessnhealth.com.

Here are a few HOT tips the experts say to keep your family safe from fire:

1. Get out and let the fire department in to fight the fire
2. Talk to your children before a fire about fire safety. Teach them what to do, where to meet outside, what are their best escape roots
3. Make sure your smoke alarms work.  Replace the batteries regularly even if you know they work now and never leave a battery out of the detector for long, just because it goes off when Mom burns the dinner sometimes
4. Have your fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned by a certified sweep. Did you know that you may need a certificate of use from the local building inspector to be covered by your home-owners policy from a fire? Find out now before it every happens
5. Clean up the clutter. Dirty or clogged dry-vents, trash piles around doorways and some flammable materials may be hanging around that you forgot to secure

So Don’t Get Caught Sleeping

Did you observe National Family Fire Drill Day (October 1st) and practice your fire escape plan? The Liberty Mutual survey reports that 38% of families don’t even have a fire escape plan let alone practice it with regular drills.

Why is it we remember doing them in school but some how forget that lesson in our adult homes?

For more information go to www.befiresmart.com